SC expresses concern over loss of public property, says country can't be held to ransom by agitations

Taking a tough stand on the agitations which cause huge problems to the common man, the Supreme Court on Wednesday said that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress or any organisation can be held accountable for damage to property during unrest.

New Delhi: Taking a tough stand on the agitations which cause huge problems to the common man, the Supreme Court on Wednesday said that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress or any organisation can be held accountable for damage to property during unrest.

The SC noted that the country cannot be held to ransom by agitations. The country's premier court said it would lay down parameters to fix accountability for damage of property during agitations.

"We will lay down parameters for fixing accountabilities for the damage caused to public properties during agitations. You cannot burn the country's or its citizens' property."

"We must take a call on the issue and we would frame guidelines for taking action against people indulging in such acts," the bench also comprising Justice C Nagappan said.

It also said, "Whether it is BJP or Congress or any other organisation, they must realise that they can be held accountable for the damage to the public property."

Earlier this month, Patel quota agitation spearhead Hardik Patel had said he will continue with the stir if he gets bail.

Hardik and his aides are facing charges under IPC section 124(A) (sedition), 121 (A) (conspiracy to wage war against government) and 120 (b) (criminal conspiracy) in the case filed against them by Ahmedabad crime branch.

The police, in their chargesheet, had termed the quota agitation spearheaded by Patel as a "pre-planned conspiracy" that was hatched to put pressure on the state government to accept their "unconstitutional demand of quota."

Recently, Haryana witnessed violent agitation over Jat reservation quota stir. The Indian industry has said the stir caused thousands of crores of losses in north Indian states and a business association demanded the government compensate traders impacted by the violent disruptions.